A multi-institutional phase II study on second-line Fotemustine chemotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma

The present study aims to assess the feasibility and the effectiveness of a second-line Fotemustine chemotherapy in patients with recurrent Glioblastoma after standard primary treatment. Between 2005 and 2007, 50 patients with relapsed malignant glioma (median age = 56.8 years; median KPS = 90) underwent a second-line chemotherapy with Fotemustine. Selected patients were previously treated with a standard 60 Gy Radiotherapy course and Temozolomide Chemotherapy. Patients were stratified into classes according to the prognostic Recursive Partition Analysis. Endpoints of the study were Progression Free Survival at 6 months, duration of Objective Response and Stabilization, Overall Survival and toxicity. At analysis, 36 patients were dead and 14 were alive. Median follow-up from primary diagnosis was 26.6 months. The Efficacy control of the disease was 62%. PFS was 6.1 months; PFS-6 was 52% and median overall survival from primary diagnosis was 24.5 months, with few manageable haematological toxicities. Fotemustine was safe and effective as second-line chemotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma.